U.S. Senate aide charged by FBI with arranging sex with a minor

James Michael Mchaney, 28, a scheduler for Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., was picked up by federal authorities Friday after allegedly showing up to meet with an acquaintance who Mchaney believed had made arrangements for him to have sex with a boy, according to the documents.

Cantwell’s Chief of Staff Michael Meehan released a statement late Monday, saying Mchaney had “immediately” been fired and the senator’s office was cooperating with the ongoing federal criminal investigation.

“Senator Cantwell has zero tolerance for crimes against children,” Meehan said.

According to the charging documents, the acquaintance was already cooperating with the FBI on another case when he told authorities he knew a man who worked for a member of Congress who had an interest in young boys and that the two had previously exchanged child pornography. He told agents that the man’s screen name was “Mike.”

Investigators determined that the screen name used by “Mike” belonged to Mchaney.

The informant, at the behest of authorities, contacted “Mike” online and asked whether he was interested in taking a long lunch to have sex with a 13-year-old boy.

“I’ll be there,” Mike answered. He then agreed to meet at a predetermined location.

Mike then asked whether the cooperating witness had a photograph and what the child looked like.

The charging documents indicate that Mchaney showed up less than an hour later.

Mchaney, who had worked in Cantwell’s office since October 2006, was charged with attempted child exploitation.

He remained in custody Monday, pending a preliminary hearing on Wednesday.

smccabe@dcexaminer.com